The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is drafting an international cooperation and development act to systematize the nation’s foreign aid projects, Weber Shih (施文斌), director-general of the ministry’s Department of Economic and Trade Affairs, said yesterday.
Speaking at the ministry’s weekly briefing, Shih said the act was inspired by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
The passage of the bill will give MOFA the mandate to be the main body overseeing all foreign aid, he said.
The ministry will also be authorized to coordinate with other government agencies and commission private organizations such as non-profit organizations or professionals to participate in various projects.
Shih, however, did not say when the draft would be ready for review by the Executive Yuan. The draft will also have to undergo legislative review when the legislature returns from its recess next month.
Taiwan has been criticized in the past for engaging in “dollar diplomacy” to woo political support from developing nations. Major countries such as Australia have been vocal in their opposition to the practice, especially in the Pacific region.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has promised to reform Taiwan’s image by promoting transparency in all of Taipei’s financial and humanitarian dealings with other countries.
He ordered the foreign ministry and the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), Taiwan’s version of the Peace Corps, to conduct all projects in a professional, transparent and efficient manner to maximize their effectiveness.
Shih said the act was part of a global trend to better plan, monitor and access all foreign aid projects.
The ministry will also set up an information database on the government’s foreign aid policy and projects, he said.
Taiwan is stepping up plans to create self-sufficient supply chains for combat drones and increase foreign orders from the US to counter China’s numerical superiority, a defense official said on Saturday. Commenting on condition of anonymity, the official said the nation’s armed forces are in agreement with US Admiral Samuel Paparo’s assessment that Taiwan’s military must be prepared to turn the nation’s waters into a “hellscape” for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Paparo, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, reiterated the concept during a Congressional hearing in Washington on Wednesday. He first coined the term in a security conference last
Prosecutors today declined to say who was questioned regarding alleged forgery on petitions to recall Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislators, after Chinese-language media earlier reported that members of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Youth League were brought in for questioning. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau confirmed that two people had been questioned, but did not disclose any further information about the ongoing investigation. KMT Youth League members Lee Hsiao-liang (李孝亮) and Liu Szu-yin (劉思吟) — who are leading the effort to recall DPP caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu (吳思瑤) and Legislator Wu Pei-yi (吳沛憶) — both posted on Facebook saying: “I
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,912) for advertisements that exceed its approved business scope, requiring the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license may be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter enforcement of Chinese e-commerce platforms and measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan in response to US President Donald Trump’s heavy tariffs on China. The Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee met today to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
RSS